Grace Works

"Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in m y absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" Philippians:2:12

Over the centuries there has been a kind-of tension with the body of Christ regarding Grace and Works. We see evidence in Scripture that We are saved apart from works, yet works are a part of the Christian experience.Some have swung in the opposite direction that Christians should not do works at all, that how we live or do not live really does not matter. Others still however anguish on in life.

 

 Hanging in the Balance

  There have been Christians whom I have met who believe that their salvation is some how a questionable proposition, some  nearly in tears fill with apprehension as to IF they will have eternal life or not , that it hangs in the balance. 

They launch into much "religious" activity, for they fear that if they do not "do" enough good, or "know" enough or "deprive" them selves enough, or have a particular "experience"  then they may not "qualify" for the salvation that they seek. These Christians  believe , with some rather entrenched convictions that they will be found "wanting" when they face their Lord Jesus Christ.

 All theses things, in moderation may be good,  but are they good enough for us to somehow earn or merit salvation to "qualify" for it? NO!

Addition to Grace

Where do addition to Grace come from? There are many "additions" to Grace that is, things humans add to the Grace which God extends to any and all who will receive it. Some additions, (and there are as many as there are people) , could be grouped into the following:

Ergonomical Grace-That is, works plus Grace brings salvation.

Ascetical Grace -That is self deprivation plus Grace brings salvation.

Esoterical Grace- That is special knowledge or understanding plus Grace held by a few brings salvation.

Ecstatical Grace-That is an experience plus Grace brings salavtion.

Sacerdotal Grace- That is participation in a given sacrament plus Grace brings salvation.

Why These Additions?

Where have these addition come from and why are they here? How have they come to be attached to the Grace of God ? Well, one reason they are present in the lives of Christians and fellowship is that at heart human begins are legalistic. We find it hard to take in the idea that God would offer us something freely, after all the world we live in does not operate like that. In the world we live and move within nothing is freely given, there are always conditions something that needs to be done in order for us to receive.

The Legalistic Person

When we have additions to Grace we tend to compare ourselves with one another to measure our performance. This is again, due to our built in legalism. The legalism  manifest its self in two ways, either the legalistic person will over value their own performance and it manifest it as self righteousness  or they under value their performance and it manifest its self as self condemnation. They can never be at rest. There is always something undone, or not done well enough , they do not know enough or have not manifest some spiritual evidence. They can not be at  rest. They feel condemned nagged by "guilt" and what they perceive as failure for their lack or  spiritual inadequacies. Others however, stride about with criticism of those around them who have not obtained their level of "spiritual maturity".

We all need to recall the words of Paul:

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Rom:8:1-4

Working It Out

So how do we understand  Scriptures like:

"Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in m y absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" Philippians:2:12

Jeremiah the Prophet was moved to say that "the way of a man is not in himself" Jeremiah:10:23  he understood that humanity simply can not and will not live the life that our God calls us to live.
Paul address this same issue in the Epistle to the Philippians that we need God to touch us at the level of the spirit and give us even the desire to know Him. 

"For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phippians:2:13

This  means that the very desire to live the Christian life is given to us by God Himself  which should encourage us to know that God has laid that desire upon us. There are some how ever who want to assume that this desire comes  from themselves , it is a way by which  some attempt to take a measure of credit for their for their salvation.

The Phippians were living in a community that made up largely of retired military people, they were used to be "self sufficient",  or  looking to a human power base,  now they had to come to see that it is all about what Jesus has done and is doing in the lives of Christians not what they or any other has done.That they, and we, need to rely upon Jesus alone.


First, there is not  enough time or space in any one article or many articles to expound upon this subject of Grace and works,  when we read such verses do we ask the first question we should always ask which is Who is Jesus Christ? If we can just take hold of Jesus and what He has accomplish for us then we can have a better grip on the questions at hand. Who is Jesus?

John the beloved Apostle, calls Jesus "the Word ", Who has always been,  He Who is with and is God  John:1:1,  and this "Word" became one of us, (14)..."the Word became flesh",  that is, He is Incarnate in the flesh, humanity.


Why start with the Incarnation?...It is generally understood that Jesus is Fully God and Fully Human,  as being one "person" with two natures, yet , with full wholeness of each, and neither a diminishing or augmenting of either ,  meaning He is simultaneously both, not one or the other. 

 Jesus is God and worthy of all our worship , adoration and praise, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit ,  yet He is one with us through the flesh that Jesus shares with us, being "us" He could die for "us",  that is humanity as a whole, being God His life is worth more then the sum total of all of "us" combined. This makes Jesus not a"potential" Savior , contingent upon something we do or do not do,  but the Savior of us already, what happens is, we through the leading of the Holy Spirit come to see what is and eternally true, that Jesus is the One and only Savior of humanity, us....When we come to believe this,  we experience the salvation that Jesus has secured for us if we will but freely receive it.

 "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe." 1Tim:4:10

It Is Finished

One of the last of the seven sacred utterances of our Lord  on the cross was "it is finished"  John:19:30

The Greek word recorded in John's account and translated as "It is finished"  is "tetelestai" , meaning paid in full, there is nothing left outstanding the dept is now and forever canceled. Only Jesus could do this, we could not save ourselves, if we could,  we would not need a Savoir.
 If Jesus had not completely provided salvation,  then  it would remain in our hands to accomplish it , which if this were the case,  we would all fail the garden of Eden and our first parents choice demonstrates this.

Salvation required  a Savior that we might rely upon Him in faith rather then our own efforts which would end in failure. Jesus did for us what none of us could do for ourselves.

The canceling of the debt of sin, gives us the promises of salvation if we will but freely receive it by grace.It can not be merited by our performance.Even the faith to receive salvation is a gift from God and dose not find its origins within our selves, for our faith would be inadequate as is our human righteousness.

"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Ephesian:2:8

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah:64:6

Salvation all is by and through Jesus alone.

Works and Grace

There has been this tension from the very foundation of the church between "works and grace" for some the idea that Salvation is is ours by simply by grace is  too easy, there fore too hard for them. Some want to be able to "contribute" somehow  to this salvation.
There is a misunderstanding that embracing grace will cause Christians to abandon a righteous   life style and descend into lasciviousness. But this is is not the grace of Scripture. Paul speaks of this very notion in Romans

 "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" Romans:6:1

The grace of the Bible leads us not to sin but rather deeper into the righteousness of our Lord, Paul's answer is found in the very next verse.

"By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (2)

Paul than speaks of the transformed life living in the very life of Jesus and the transformed life He gives to us all. If we truly have come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, then we can not stay as we were, our response to to yield to His leading and live to Him which means we reach out to do good as He did and does.  

Grace is not an abandonment of doing good as some mistakenly believe, rather it is the true recognition of Who Jesus is ans all that He did for each of us this transforms us inside and out we are now new creations in Him.

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,"Titus:2:11-12b

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2Corinthians:5:17

We then live out that salvation and works done are merely the evidence of what is now true for us. The works are indications that we have come to believe, we are "working out our salvation" that is giving expression to it,  letting it have full reign of our lives letting it be shown forth. We do good works because of the salvation that we have , but not to earn that salvation . In other words we do not have salvation because we do good works but rather we do good works because we do  have salvation. 

If we have come to believe in Jesus Christ and have experienced the grace of God we will not be able to keep it to our selves it will move us to reach out to others in love to shear that love that our Lord has so graciously shown toward us.

We can not earn it we can not deserve it it is ours through our Lord Jesus alone.Grace works to transform us giving us a new life so that we might show forth all that our Lord has accomplished for us all.Grace works in us nothing need be added to it , Jesus has done it all. Amen


 Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The Glory of the Latter House

"And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are to this day. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD." 1Kings:8-11

The Temple of God  at Jerusalem was an extremely magnificent building, there has never been anything else like it built by human hands. God gave the over all design and King Salomon commissioned the work.  There was the highest quality building materials. Gold, Silver, Brass, quarried stones, tapestries that went into the Temple. It is nearly impossible to estimate the value of the Temple.

There was a priesthood adorned in beautiful priestly robes, preforming meaningful liturgical   and sacerdotal  ceremonies.  Offering and were placed upon the alter each day as well on the Sabbath and the Holy Days that had been enjoined under the Old Covenant.

Prayer and the reading of the Law was conducted in the courts. It was all very powerful and moving. It is nearly impossible to estimate the value of the Temple.

It's True Value

For all it's grandeur as a structure . all the quality of the building materials and the sacrament and ceremony, what is it that gave the Temple at Jerusalem it's value?  It was none of the externals but rather all or any value that was found there came from the God Who's presences was manifested by the very Glory of God , that is the Shekinah,  there in the Holy of Holies and represented by the Ark of the Covenant.
 If the Great God had not "dwelt" there then the Temple would have no value other than its material value.

All that was done in the Temple would have been empty ritual. God's presences was the true value of the Temple. If  the Lord was not there it would have simply be valueless.

The Latter House

 The Church is called b y the New Testament writers  the Temple of God , Christian are to have through Jesus the relationship that the Jerusalem Temple only symbolized. Paul speaking to Christians he tells us that we are God's Temple, because the Spirit of God , that is the Holy Spirit,  dwells in us, the very same Spirit that showed God was in the Temple.

" Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1Corinthians:3:16

 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" 1Corinthians:6:19

 The Prophets of God saw in part  when they wrote of God's work through His Jesus and all that He would accomplish for us all they know that what they saw was for a generation to come.

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things."1Peter:1:10-12

The Prophets of God looked to our day and saw the perfect work of Jesus and the presence of God through the Holy Spirit  within the lives of Christians filling our lives as did the Glory fill the Temple, that we as the latter house would have more glory within us than all that was found in the Temple.


"The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, said the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, said the LORD of hosts."Haggai:2:9

Even the Simplest Thing

That means , even if we , by the lead of the Holy Spirit, preform the simplest act of kindness it brings more glory to God than all the sacraments and ceremonies of the Temple because it is birth out of our relationship and with and the presence of the living Jesus in us.

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Colossians:1:27

This hope of glory is not just some day in eternity  to come , but each day lived out through the guidance of the holy Spirit all to His glory. Some fill grand works on a grand scale bring glory to our Lord but this not always true.

Look at the world around us, there are many "good" people,  all loved and wanted by our Father in Heaven yet they live in either ignorance of , or indifference to,  or even in rebellion of  Jesus Christ, yet these people do "good" works,  their good works can be seen as great and help many for the here and now, but , if a Believer in Jesus does one small act of kindness Christ can work in that small act to transform the recipients life for ever  and bring glory to God, even giving just a cup of water to one who is thirsty.

Fruit of the Spirit

All humanity is made in the" image and likeness of God "  Genesis:1:26 , so to some degree even nonbelievers show some measure of  Who God is,  yet , they are not experiencing the salvation that is there for them in Christ , so they too can do good works, yet those works will be oriented toward the self. But for the believers, that is those who have come to received the Salvation that our Lord has accomplished for us , good works and the fruit of the Holy Spirit is born out of our relationship with our Lord. These are not of the flesh but of the Spirit,   they are,  in truth our Lord's works not our works . Paul wrote that the life that he lived was not his own but Jesus' life in him. Paul's life was over the Apostle lived in Jesus' life and lived it out of his relationship with Jesus.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians:2:20

This life of Jesus in the believer is  evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit , Galatians:5:22-26, this is more than just "self sacrifice" it is rather "sacrifice of the self" . Living to God in a life of worship and service that is lived out of a renewed mind.

 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" .Romans:12:1-2

Priesthood

This life of worship and living for Jesus supersedes all  the grand sacraments found under the Old Covenant, under the Priesthood of Aaron  for it is the ministry of Jesus in and through the believers life within the Priesthood of all believers all to the glory of God.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."1Peter:2:9

 The Latter House

The Church , that is Christians are all apart of that Latter House, the Temple of the Great God which will be filled with His glory not our own. That means what ever value or worth that is found in the Church, that Latter House which is filled with glory, it can only be found in the abiding presence of God through the Holy Spirit .

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"1Corinthians:3:16

When Christians place their own lives upon the alter of our Lord , that is set aside their own wants and agendas , then we can truly live for Him and all that Jesus might be glorified and exulted, even the good works of the Christian life are for Him and not we ourselves.

"let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew:5:16

Even the very desire to bring glory to Him does not find it's origins within us but comes through and by God Himself but is given to us by Him, for we would humanly want to bring glory or attention to our selves and receive what only belongs to Jesus.

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians:2:13

 We can,  only through our Lord's presence within each of us through the Spirit of God , seek to glorify our Lord and fill this latter House  full of the Glory of God ,  all for Jesus and for Jesus alone. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

All Things to All

"I become all things to all men," I Corinthians:9 :22d

Paul worked tirelessly and opportunistically in his ministry. The Apostle was always looking for an opportunity to  present Jesus to any and to all. Paul was relentless in casting the dragnet of the Gospel out into the ocean of humanity to see what the catch might be.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:" Matthew:13:47

"And Jesus said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."John:21:6

 Connecting With People

Paul writing to the Christian Church at Corinth, and to us down through the ages that one way that Paul sought and found opportunity to present the message of salvation in Jesus was by finding a means to connect with people. Paul realized that Christians should not alienate those around us, after all God has not done so why should we? God has, instead of alienate humanity ,  redeemed and removed anything hindrances that might stop us from knowing Him, which is eternal life. We can see this reflected in the Scriptures that Peter is sent to Cornelius' house who was a Gentile after the vision of the unclean animals.Through the animals called "unclean" , God is showing Peter, and we all, that no person, such as a Gentile, is  "unclean" .


“Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean.”

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”Acts:10:15b-20

Paul also comments again that no one is alienated from God and His salvation work .God is not the God of only one nation but peoples from many.

 "remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,…" Ephesians:2:12-14

Realizing that all peoples are now in the sight of God,  brought back into a proper practical relationship with our Lord , Paul therefore reached out powerfully under the power of the Holy Spirit to tell any and all about Jesus Christ. God is a multicultural God and through His Son Jesus He connects with all humanity.

 Multicultural Work

Paul knew that his multicultural ministry would dictate that he make adjustment for the variety of people that he would encounter that they would come from many places and cultures. He would make allotments fro them in his presentation , yet he did so with out compromise to the Gospel message Paul preached Christ and him crucified. 

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law."I Have become all things to all men" 1Corinthians:9:9-22

The Apostles did so, that he might present the Gospel of Jesus and they might be receptive and  believe and then experience that salvation.

"so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."1Corinthains:9:22b-23

Speaking in Tongues

It has always been God's intention that people of all nations might know Him all through Jesus, the Old Testaments Prophets looked ahead to this invitation to all peoples.

"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples;" Isaiah:49:22

We can see this outreach to peoples of all nations in Acts:2, when the Holy Spirit manifested , people of all nation heard the message in their own "tongue" . God "connected" , that is He spoke their language  and 3000 of  them  came to believe in Jesus , Acts:2:41

Speaking Their language 

The Miracle of "Tongues" speaks more to being able to connect with those around us, that is can we "speak their language",  share with them the Gospel about Jesus in a way they can understand or relate to it? Can we be as Paul and be come "All things to All Men"?

Paul found away to talk about Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul accommodate them where they were, where he could Paul met them where they are.  God has done the same things for humanity, He has accommodated us in the incarnation. God has met us here where we are in the Person of His Son Jesus.It is a real gift to be able to relate to others in a powerful way that they can be receptive and give the Gospel a fair hearing. 

Living Epistles

Can those around us see Christ in us in a way that is compelling and draws them to the message of Gospel?

Each and all of us who have come to believe in our Lord Jesus , we who are experiencing that life of salvation should examine our selves and ask are we living in away that reflects the love of our Lord?

What do they see when they look upon our lives? Are we living Epistles with His Word written upon our hearts and lived out each day to the Glory of our Lord? This is a question all Christian need to ask, both clergy and laity alike. I have asked myself this question many times.

"You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read of all men:" 2Corinthians:3:2

 Fishers of Men

When we interact with those around us is our life casting the dragnet of the Kingdom? Are we fishers of men as Jesus calls us all to be?  Is our lives as a dragnet that draws others into the Kingdom.

"And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew:4:19

What do they see in our lives  the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Galatians:5:22-26

Do the people will walk among see in our lives the Holy Spirit manifesting the life of Jesus in each of us, are drawn in do we meet them where they are in such a way that others might desire to know our Lord?

Are we able to relate to the "lost" , are we approachable, can we met them where they are and be "all things to all men"? When we interact with those around us do we set them at ease as Jesus did? Our Lord was such that the shunned felt care for and welcome. Mark:2:13-17

This is what we are all called to be , people who extend Grace and Love and Mercy not to berate the broken and lost with theological or Scriptural sermonizing , but Jesus' love  for all.

How We See Them

 Paul concluded that Jesus' death was for all humanity and that very love  of Jesus changed how he regarded all people that the Paul came in contact with.  Paul said that it was Jesus' love for us that compelled or motivated him to tell others about our Lord and changed how he saw all others as loved and included in Christs' work of salvation. If we truly understood His work we would see all peoples so very differently we view them as loved by the Great God  and wanted by Him.

   

 "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2Corithians:5:14-20

Our lives are to be lives that touch people for the better,  meeting them where they are so that we might win some to the Gospel of our Lord,  we can do this by being as Paul was "All things to all men"....Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The Blessing of the Priest

"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them" Luke:24:50

Even as the people of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, the Lord God gave the Priesthood who ministered before Him a blessing  that they might bestow upon the people of Israel.

This blessing has been traditionally called Birkat Kohanim, or the Priestly Blessing .

This Blessing is found in the Old Testament Book of Numbers written by God's Servant Moses. It is called by some Biblical Scholars "the Lord's Prayer " of the Old Testament

"The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:“ ‘ “May The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers:6:22-27 

My Name Upon Them

This Blessing was used a blessing when a parents would bring their newborn(s) to the Priest at the Temple, they would gather on the steps of the Temple for the naming ceremony ,being  at the Temple symbolized that all blessings come from God whose Temple this was,  and there  the Priest would pronounce the Birkat Kohanim over the child. For boys it was done on the eighth day, called the "Brit" and was  given at the circumcision,  and for girls called "Zeved habat"  performed sometime during their first month.

It was believed in the culture of that time that a name given carried with it an influence upon the life of the child, that based on the name given the child would manifest in their life the meaning of the name.  It was therefore important to not only vest a proper and the family name but God's name as well,  showing God's rightful claim over the life of the child and  to make possible in the that life blessings.

“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers:6:27

God's name is ever upon Israel and upon it's people.

A Life of Worship

Reviving the blessing from the Priest contained within it a blessing for and of the worship of the great God. It was to convey into the life of the nation a recognition of Who the Lord God is Who delivered them and kept them, providing every good thing.

"May the Lord Bless you" (24)

This literally means to be  "on bended knees" , that is worship. There are untold blessings which come to a life that is filled with worship of the God of the Holy Scriptures. Such a life is preserved and peaceful. A life of worship is a life of reliance in and acknowledgement of the God of Bible. It conveys the sense that it is a blessing to worship God.

 As a Shepard

"and keep you"(24)

This speaks of  the Lord as keeping Israel(or Christians) in the same way that a Shepherd  keeps or watches over his flock .  A Shepherd would build a hedge around his flock  that encircled them, he,  himself  would stay at the entrance or the "gate" of the hedge ever vigilant and watchful against any harm.  Willing to die to protect the flock. Leading,  caring for  and walking among the sheep to give them assurance that he is there.This blessing, of the Lord being all to Israel , or to us, that a Shepard is to his flock is a blessing bestowed in the Priestly Blessing.

Shine on You

"May He make His face to shine on you"(25)

This is to bless us that we might know our the Lord is beaming at us, that is, He is smiling upon us will good pleasure in joy He looks at us lovingly , longingly and full of gladness that Israel and any and all who will but freely receive it are wanted and loved by the Great God.  The Shining of His countenance is as vital to life as the rising sun.  His radiant countenance that shines forth only reveals the love of His heart toward us.

 He Wants Us

"and be gracious to you"(25)

God wants us to know that He wants us all, as He wanted Israel. That in all things He knows our weakness and frailties. He is tolerant of our failings.  The Lord knows our needs and and He is most willing to provide for us. He is ever inclined toward us. His loving arms are opened wide inviting us to embrace His loving care. His forgiveness always there. 

Facing Us

"may He turn His face toward you"(26)

He is turned toward us, His eye upon us, He sees us,  He knows us. We are the center of His attention.We are in His view. He is receptive to us and  has acceptance  of us .He looks on us to see us to know us and we to know Him. He wants us to recognize Him. To distinguish  His working in our lives.  To face Him even as He faces us. To know that He will not turn His back on us. To see Him clearly  with out obstructions.

 Peace

"and give you peace" (26)

The Lord is the very source of peace, Israel needed peace even as we now do. There is a great peace upon those who worship the God of the Scriptures. This peace of which the Lord is the giver of  sets free a people, individually and as a nation to have quite and security  in life. There is an absents of confusion and strife. 

This peace allows us to conduct our lives without distractions. There is calm and a nurturing environment.

We can be at rest.

The Priestly Blessing

This Blessing conferred upon the people of Israel could only be discharged through and by the Priesthood of the Sons of Aaron. It was given to them by God to extend it into the life of the people. It was order so that the people might know that such great blessing were obtained only through the God of Israel. The Priesthood stood as His representatives among the people.

This Priestly Blessing, Birkat Kohanim,  began,  over time to be a benediction spoken upon the congregations meeting in the synagogues each week on the Sabbath as their worship service concluded. This benediction blessing would carry the people throughout another week  until they met again in worship.

 Raising the Hands

the Shin

As services ended  , whether at the Temple or  giving the blessing  in the weekly gathering the Priest would raise his hands , this  lifting of the hands was called Nesiat Kapyim., and the Priests would with his hands lifted and extended touch his thumbs and separate their fingers to form the Hebrew letter "Shin "   with each hand representing  the name of God "Shaddai" which means "the All Sufficient God" . This the God Who bestows all the Blessings spoken in the  Birkat Kohanim upon Israel or the individual, upon us today who have come to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ Who is all these things and more.

The space between the thumbs of each hand represents the windows or portals  of Heaven,  through which the Blessing pour forth into the life of any receiving the Birkat Kohanim

  Jesus Lifts His Hands

It is possible, though we might never know for certain  this side of Eternity,  that at the accession of our Lord Jesus , that He Himself, as the great High Priest of God for all peoples, lifted His nail pierced hands,  that is  Nesiat Kapyim , and  forming  the Shin and spoke the  blessing of  the Birkat Kohanim  and more, upon His disciples  then  and  in all ages.

"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." Luke:24:50-53

All the Blessings contained with in the Birkat Kohanim  and more,  are ours in abundance all through He who is the "All Sufficient One"  ,  our Lord Jesus Christ.

 ‘ “The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.” .....Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com